Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14, 2025. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for her renewed relationship with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his drug war.

The Marcos administration served the ICC arrest warrant for the former president on March 11 and on the same day sent him to The Hague, the Netherlands, where the ICC is based, to face his charges.

Duterte's former wife arrives in the Netherlands

Speaking with the media, Sara Duterte said that while it was "ironic," she expressed gratitude to Marcos because "there was forgiveness between" her and her father "for all that has happened in our lives."

"We have a relationship now, a father-daughter relationship. Since we cannot discuss anything legal anymore because it is understood inside that only the lawyers can discuss legal matters with the former president, So, we only discussed family, and this has been one of the longest meetings I have had. I have this every day with him, talking about life," the younger Duterte said.

"At this point, he's already 80, and he's already retired. He will go back up again to his job. So, we were given this time to talk as father-daughter," she said.

"It's sad that it has to happen inside. But there is a good side. It's sad that it has to happen inside."

Without disclosing an exact date, Sara Duterte said she would return to the Philippines after fixing some papers. Her brothers, Paolo and Sebastian Duterte, may visit their father in the Netherlands soon to take her place.

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Asked if she ever thought that her father should not have run for president and should have just stayed in local politics, VP Sara said, "I really believe that it's futile to regret decisions made in the past because I believe that everything happens for a reason."

"So whatever it is that happened in the past, I think we should just learn from it and then move forward."

As for the planned interim release that their defense may possibly pursue, VP Sara said: "I do not know really, truly, honestly, I do not know what the steps are, the lawyers are doing with regard to the interim release."

"But as I told you before, I fear for his life in the Philippines. But we follow what the client wants, what [former] President Duterte wants."

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Meanwhile, Sara Duterte said her relationship with her half-sister, Veronica, better known as Kitty, grew stronger when their father was taken to the Netherlands.

Sara Duterte, Honeylet Avanceña, Kitty visit ex-president Duterte anew

"I don't have the word right now, I only have happy, but it's the incorrect word to describe it. But, blessed. I'm blessed because I gained a sister with what happened to me after the attack, the presidential haunt attack, the impeachment," she said.

"And, I have a relationship now, I have a relationship with Kitty. And I'm happy that... I'm happy that I have a sister because I have someone to scold. Growing up, I didn't have that, but I have that now."

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